With its Windows Live suite of products and services, Microsoft is delivering a comprehensive receipt designed to permit end users to connect, communicate and share independent of location and platform. Earlier this week the Redmond company evolved Windows Live into its next stage of evolution. The new generation of Windows Live was prefigured in mid 2007, when Chris Jones, corporate vice president of Windows Live Experience Program Management at Microsoft, announced the next milestone in the evolution of the suite of offerings.

"Today we take a significant step forward in helping consumers simplify [the users'] digital lives," Jones explained. "With over 400 million customers using the service today, we have a real opportunity to help consumers connect their online experiences, devices and networks in new and powerful ways. This new generation of Windows Live brings great enhancements to popular services like Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger and Windows Live Spaces while introducing new, fun experiences with digital photos, planning and sharing events, publishing to the Web, and keeping in touch with friends that we think our customers will really enjoy."

With this step Microsoft has also delivered a range of upgrades for the products offered and an integer part of Windows Live. New versions of Windows Live Mail, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Photo Gallery, Windows Live Writer, Windows Live OneCare Family Safety and Windows Live Toolbar are all up for grabs. And the best way to access the new downloads is making use of the unified installer for Windows Live offered at the beginning of September.

"We're continually working to make Windows Live relevant and useful to consumers, developers and advertisers. In the coming year, consumers can expect us to continue to deliver on the Windows Live vision with enhancements to all the Windows Live services, including Windows Live Photo Gallery, Windows Live Hotmail, Windows Live Messenger Windows Live Writer and more. We'll also make some new products available that align with our software plus services strategy - for example, new services still in beta like Windows Live SkyDrive," Jones added.